England flanker Ben Earl confirms he’s swapping sports

The Saracens flanker has been named in Jamie George’s XI for the Captains Clash at the Cooper Associates County Ground in Taunton on Wednesday, August 19.

Earl will line up alongside a host of familiar rugby faces, including former England captain Owen Farrell, Elliot Daly, Max Malins, Fergus Burke, Alfie Barbeary and Olly Hartley.

The match will see George’s side take on a team captained by Somerset skipper Lewis Gregory, with play getting underway at 3:45pm.

The event is being staged in support of the Motor Neurone Disease Association and the Lewis Gregory Testimonial.

It won't be Earl's first experience with a cricket bat in his hands.

Before establishing himself as one of England's leading back-row forwards, Earl was a talented young cricketer and represented Kent up to Under-15 level.

The 28-year-old eventually chose rugby, going on to establish himself with Saracens and England, but has retained his love for cricket.

He will now get another opportunity to show what he can do with bat and ball in front of supporters at Somerset's home ground.

Earl is one of several rugby internationals involved, with Jamie George's full team featuring Earl, Angus Hall, Fergus Burke, George, Farrell, Barbeary, Hartley, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Peter Trego, Tom Abell, Migael Pretorius and James Rew.

Gregory's opposition side includes Daly, Malins, Tobias Elliott, Phil Brantingham, James Hadfield, Hugh Tizard, Nick Tompkins, Jamie Overton, Jack Leach, Jake Ball and Dean Saunders.

Former England and British & Irish Lions flanker Lewis Moody is also set to be involved in the event.

The Captains Clash forms part of Gregory's testimonial year, celebrating the Somerset all-rounder's career while raising money for good causes.

Gregory has spent more than a decade at Somerset and has become one of the county's most influential modern players, particularly in white-ball cricket.

Tickets for the fixture are priced from £15 for adults and £5 for Under-16s, with a VIP dinner and auction also taking place following the match.

For Earl, it represents a rare opportunity to temporarily swap tackles and breakdowns for boundaries and wickets — and given his cricketing background, he could be one of the rugby stars worth keeping an eye on when the action gets underway in Taunton.